Pick a Day

Music History Events: Charts

November 2, 1968 Jose Feliciano's unique rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner," which he performed on acoustic guitar before Game 5 of the World Series on October 7, enters the Hot 100 at #89, making it the first version of the US National Anthem to chart (it peaks at #50). Many singers start adding their own flavor to the song; the next version to chart is Whitney Houston's Super Bowl performance in 1991, which hits #20.

September 28, 1968 The Beatles' "Hey Jude" (backed with "Revolution") hits #1 in America. It holds the top spot for nine weeks, the longest of any Beatles single.

August 17, 1968 The Doors' third album, Waiting For The Sun, hits #1 in America thanks to the hit "Hello, I Love You." They recorded the song after scraping plans to put a Jim Morrison poetry piece called "Celebration of the Lizard" on the entire first side.

July 20, 1968 Hugh Masekela's trumpet composition "Grazing In The Grass" hits #1 in America, knocking off trumpet player Herb Alpert's "This Guy's In Love With You."

April 13, 1968 Bobby Goldsboro's "Honey" hits #1 in the US, where it stays for five weeks. A love-it-or-hate-it song, it tells the story of a man whose wife dies and is reminded of her every time he looks at the tree she planted.

April 6, 1968 The Graduate soundtrack hits #1 in America thanks to Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson," which tops the Hot 100 less than two months later.More

March 16, 1968 Otis Redding's "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" hits #1, becoming the first-ever posthumous #1 hit. Redding died in a plane crash on December 10, 1967.More

December 30, 1967 The Beatles' "Hello Goodbye" becomes their 15th #1 single in the US.

November 25, 1967 "Incense And Peppermints" by Strawberry Alarm Clock hits #1 in America. The song is co-written by the band's guitarist, Ed King, who later joins Lynyrd Skynyrd.

August 26, 1967 Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billy Joe" hits #1 in America for the first of four weeks. The song looks at how quickly we move on to the next thing, as Billie Joe's demise quickly becomes old news.

July 1, 1967 Scott McKenzie's "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)," written by John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas, reaches its chart peak of #4 in America, where it galvanizes the Flower Power movement.

June 3, 1967 Aretha Franklin's "Respect" hits #1 in America. The song was written and originally recorded by Otis Redding, whose version hit #35 in 1965.

April 15, 1967 Nancy and Frank Sinatra's "Somethin' Stupid" goes to #1 in America for the first of four weeks. It's the only father-daughter duet ever to top the Hot 100.

March 25, 1967 How is the weather? Bright and sunny for The Turtles, who hit #1 in the US with "Happy Together."

December 31, 1966 The Monkees' "I'm A Believer," written by Neil Diamond, hits #1 in America. The song stays at the top for seven weeks.

November 12, 1966 The Monkees' self-titled debut album hits #1 in America and stays for 13 weeks.

October 29, 1966 Powered by a captivating Vox Continental organ riff and a lead singer who always wears sunglasses and goes by the name of "?", "96 Tears" by ? & the Mysterians hits #1 in America.More

October 22, 1966 The Supremes become the first girl group with a #1 album in the US when The Supremes A' Go-Go bumps The Beatles' Revolver from the top spot.

September 26, 1966 The lyrically dissonant "Cherish" (don't play it at your wedding) by The Association hits #1 in America. In 1971, David Cassidy of The Partridge Family has his first hit with a cover of the song.

August 13, 1966 The Lovin' Spoonful's "Summer In The City" hits #1 for the first of three weeks, becoming the first chart-topper with street sounds in the mix.

July 2, 1966 "Strangers in the Night" goes to #1, giving Frank Sinatra his first #1 pop hit since "Learnin' The Blues" in 1955. The song appeared in the film A Man Could Get Killed, winning the Oscar for Best Song.

May 7, 1966 "Monday Monday" by The Mamas & the Papas goes to #1 on the Hot 100, becoming the first song with a day of the week in the title to top the chart.

April 2, 1966 Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass become the first act with four albums in the US Top 10 simultaneously: #2 Going Places #3 Whipped Cream and Other Delights #9 South Of The Border #10 The Lonely Bull It's a record that stands until December 9, 2023, when Taylor Swift charts five albums simultaneously, including "Taylor's Version" reissues of 1989 and Speak Now.

March 12, 1966 The theme song to the TV series Batman reaches its chart peak of #17.

February 26, 1966 Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" climbs to #1 in America.More

January 1, 1966 Simon & Garfunkel reunite after a reworked version of their song "The Sound Of Silence" hits #1 in the US.More

December 4, 1965 The Byrds' "Turn! Turn! Turn!" hits #1 for the first of three weeks. Written by folk singer Pete Seeger, its lyrics come from the Bible's book of Ecclesiastes.

November 13, 1965 Simple as Do-Re-Mi: The Sound of Music soundtrack, featuring Julie Andrews, hits #1 in America.

August 14, 1965 Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe" hits #1 for the first of three weeks.

August 7, 1965 Herman's Hermits knock "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" from the top spot in America with "I'm Henry The VIII, I Am," a "second verse, same as the first" cover of a music hall song from 1910.